Refrain from personal speculation of the Indo-Naga Political Issue: TR Zeliang

Dismisses claims on Ntangki, post-solution Nagaland status

Kohima, June 6 (MExN): The Chairman of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Nagaland TR Zeliang today appealed “all right-thinking Naga leaders to refrain from putting forth statements based on personal speculation of the Indo-Naga Political Issue in public domain.”

In particular, he noted that “over-ground Naga leaders who are under oath of allegiance to the Constitution of India must restrain themselves from making loose remarks on the matter.”

Zeliang, who is also the former Chief Minister of the State, stated that “various varied debates” on issues surrounding the Indo-Naga Political Issue, both on print and social media have “resulted in misunderstanding and confusion with regard to the Naga Political Solution.”

Accordingly, he made the appeal as the Chairman of the UDA Government in Nagaland,

In a statement, Zeliang said accepted that “everyone including lawmakers and public leaders have the right to speak out for common welfare of the Naga people” but also maintained that the scenario is a bit different from other negotiations.

“One should remember that unlike the 1960s when overground groups were part of the negotiation, it is the Naga Nationalist Groups who are part of the negotiation today,” he added.

“In 1960, negotiation had taken place between Government of India (GoI) and the Nagas and the 16-Point Agreement was executed between both the Parties without the consent of undivided Naga National Council (NNC),” he said.

“As such, the armed conflict continued till today,” he added, implying that any agreement without all Naga Political Groups is inconclusive.

“Therefore, the perception of the present-day UDA Government is focused on inclusiveness – which means all the Naga Nationalist Groups should be part of the long-awaited Peace Accord in order not to repeat the same mistake of the past,” he added.

To this end, the UDA Chairman asserted that any unwarranted statement made by Naga leaders “outside the parameters of the on-going negotiation” between the Naga negotiating Groups and the GoI would “mislead the Naga people before the draft agreement is formulated by Government of India and placed before the Naga leaders.”

It is important to appreciate the genuine efforts put in by the negotiating parties from both sides to bring about an amicable settlement to the Naga Political Issue, he added.

Dismisses speculations
Zeliang also ruled out any agreement being signed secretly without knowledge of the people.

“One should not believe that such a complex and sensitive issue will be inked secretly and imposed on our people,” he said.

“As desired by the Naga people, we trust and believe that once the negotiating Parties have arrived at a common ground, they will surely consult all the apex Tribal Leaders and the State Government before inking the final accord,” he added.

The UDA Chairman further noted that it is widely understood that the two sides have agreed to most of the competencies and have arrived at a meeting point, and therefore, it was “premature to come to conclusion that some of the key issues which the Naga people aspire will not be included in the Agreement.”

Among others, he pointed that there have been “speculations that post-solution, the present State of Nagaland will cease to exist.”

“This, as we understand, is absolutely wrong,” he asserted.

In addition, the assumption that the “Ntangki National Park will be deforested” by the GoI and allotted to Naga Nationalist Workers for resettlement is also “outside the box of negotiation,” he added.

It has been confirmed from both sides that such demand was never placed before the GoI by either of the negotiating group, he elaborated.

Calling it a total “work of fiction,” Zeliang maintained that even if such demand comes up in the near future, the GoI would “never agree to such a proposal as we were made known by the Indian Representative of the Peace Talks.”

Demand for resignation of legislators ‘uncalled-for’
Meanwhile, Zeliang said that though the 60 MLAs of Nagaland have “committed to pave way for smooth transition” as and when a final settlement, the demand for “resignation of democratically elected members at this juncture by individuals and certain section of the Society is uncalled-for.”

“Every Naga leader has the right to tender his or her suggestion and advice but the same should not be shaped out of one’s desires to make an impact in the State political scenario and at the expense of the Naga Political Issue,” he declared.

Against this backdrop, the present-day UDA Government requested all Naga organisations and Naga leaders to avoid issuing public statements “based on speculation and hearsays as the same is bound to confuse and mislead the Naga people” at a crucial juncture when the Indo-Naga Peace talks are at the “threshold of a final breakthrough.”

‘Things are moving with positivity ’
Since formation, the UDA Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had started working more vigorously towards Naga political solution by consulting negotiating Parties and Central leadership like the Prime Minister and Home Minister, he further maintained.

“At present, things are moving with positivity,” he added,

The State Government has also conveyed the sentiments of the Naga Negotiating Groups to central leadership that GoI should not change its stand from what had been “committed to the Nagas in written through RN Ravi or AK Mishra” because both represents the latter, though in different times, Zeliang informed.

He further conveyed to both the Naga negotiating groups and the GoI that both the parties “should not back out from what has been committed to each other, in written or verbal during the last 25 years, so that the Naga people can expect the talks to come to a logical conclusion at the earliest.”

Source: https://morungexpress.com/refrain-from-personal-speculation-of-the-indo-naga-political-issue-tr-zeliang